"No, to the Bedouin village; the Wild East show."
"Very well. You have just saved your lives. I understand that Cairo Street is one of the plums of the Plaisance, and if Robert had gone without me, I should have been highly offended."
"Yes, he is well trained. I wonder if my wife will find me as thoughtful. I am afraid not."
Hilda laughed at the sincere meekness of his tone. "No, I'm sure she won't, for the simple reason that you will never have one."
"I should be sorry to think that."
"Then why don't you do as nine out of every ten men in your place would do?"
"You mean fall in love? You know, Hilda, how often I've done that."
Mrs. Page laughed again at the gently remonstrant tone. "Your sort of falling in love isn't worth two straws," she declared scoffingly. "Don't take that into consideration at all. The next woman you meet who satisfies you intellectually, propose to her. If she accepts you, marry her. I don't believe you would make her very unhappy. You wouldn't if you were as kind a husband as you are a brother."
"Thank you. You might give me a written recommendation. See how handsome Miss Bryant's face looks against that golden pillow."
"Yes; it is a proof of your hard heart that you withstand her."